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Drive-thrus put quick-service restaurant chains like Raising Cane’s, In-N-Out in the fast lane of pandemic recoveryDrive-thrus put quick-service restaurant chains like Raising Cane’s, In-N-Out in the fast lane of pandemic recovery

Brands leverage the classic service model to drive traffic and sales during coronavirus closures

Nancy Luna, Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

June 16, 2020

6 Min Read
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Famed fast food brand In-N-Out Burger is no stranger to snaking drive-thru lanes.

But amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the iconic Southern California quick-service chain has seen those lines of customers craving a Double-Double and fries swell.

At peak hours, workers wearing black masks direct cars into double-wide drive-thru lanes, acting more like air traffic controllers. One employee takes orders on a clipboard, while another enters orders from a tablet. 

The quick-service chain, which grew sales 7.14% in the latest year and is set to expand into Colorado later in 2020, was open for carryout during dine-in closures. Patio seating is starting to reopen. But like other QSR chains, drive-thru lanes have proven to be In-N-Out’s best ordering chan...

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About the Author

Nancy Luna

Senior editor, Nation's Restaurant News

Nancy Luna is a senior editor at Nation's Restaurant News and a contributing editor at Supermarket News. She covers the industry's largest and most talked about fast-food brands including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC and Subway. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years reporting experience. As a veteran business reporter based in Southern California, Nancy has covered some of the country's most beloved food and retail brands including In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, Target and Costco. Luna is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. When she's not digging for news on her beat, you can find Nancy regaling her fans about her latest dining adventures on her Fast Food Maven social media channels. Contact [email protected]  or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/fastfoodmaven

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